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Two planes in fatal mid-air crash | Two planes in fatal mid-air crash |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Two light aircraft have crashed in a fatal mid-air collision near the seaside resort of Porthcawl, Bridgend. | |
The Ministry of Defence said there were casualties in the incident at 1100 GMT, although the number of dead is unconfirmed. | |
The wreckage is half a mile apart, with some in sand dunes near Kenfig nature reserve. | The wreckage is half a mile apart, with some in sand dunes near Kenfig nature reserve. |
One eyewitness told the BBC she saw two planes hit each other in the sky, before she heard an explosion. | One eyewitness told the BBC she saw two planes hit each other in the sky, before she heard an explosion. |
Aerial footage of the air crash scene near Porthcawl | |
Reena Callingham told the BBC news website: "I was in the garden putting the clothes on the line and I could hear a light aircraft. | Reena Callingham told the BBC news website: "I was in the garden putting the clothes on the line and I could hear a light aircraft. |
"I looked up because I couldn't see it and thought to myself that it was high up. | "I looked up because I couldn't see it and thought to myself that it was high up. |
"And then I could hear another one and I could see that one too and I thought to myself that I didn't realise they flew so close together. | "And then I could hear another one and I could see that one too and I thought to myself that I didn't realise they flew so close together. |
"I watched them for a few minutes and then the second one just hit him. | "I watched them for a few minutes and then the second one just hit him. |
'Aeroplane wreckage' | 'Aeroplane wreckage' |
"I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down. | "I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down. |
"I couldn't speak and I rang the police. My heart is still beating so hard, it was a big shock. You can see smoke now but I don't know exactly where they are." | "I couldn't speak and I rang the police. My heart is still beating so hard, it was a big shock. You can see smoke now but I don't know exactly where they are." |
A local councillor Jeff Tildesley said the wreckage is in the sand dunes at Mawdlam. | A local councillor Jeff Tildesley said the wreckage is in the sand dunes at Mawdlam. |
He said: "I am able to see some evidence of the aeroplane wreckage surrounded by police vehicles, we have heard the pilot jumped out. | He said: "I am able to see some evidence of the aeroplane wreckage surrounded by police vehicles, we have heard the pilot jumped out. |
"We are hearing there is one fatality but that is unconfirmed, I am only able to see the wreckage of one plane. | "We are hearing there is one fatality but that is unconfirmed, I am only able to see the wreckage of one plane. |
There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet South Wales Police spokesman | There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet South Wales Police spokesman |
"I am on the wall of St Mary Magdalene church. There are lots of vehicles here and police have set up a diversion, I am able to see further in the distance where there is one ambulances and two fire engines, I can hear the sirens." | "I am on the wall of St Mary Magdalene church. There are lots of vehicles here and police have set up a diversion, I am able to see further in the distance where there is one ambulances and two fire engines, I can hear the sirens." |
Gareth Maund, landlord of the Prince of Wales pub added: "Two military light aircraft have collided over the Kenfig area. | Gareth Maund, landlord of the Prince of Wales pub added: "Two military light aircraft have collided over the Kenfig area. |
"I first heard about it when my son phoned and said a plane was down. | "I first heard about it when my son phoned and said a plane was down. |
"I can see very little from here, there is debris in the fields. | "I can see very little from here, there is debris in the fields. |
"Search and rescue helicopters been going round the fields. | "Search and rescue helicopters been going round the fields. |
"I took a couple of fire brigade people down to the first site, it's a couple of hundred yards away. I stayed in the wagon. All of the emergency services are here now. | "I took a couple of fire brigade people down to the first site, it's a couple of hundred yards away. I stayed in the wagon. All of the emergency services are here now. |
"Quite a lot of onlookers around, there are lot of shocked people here. Police are using the pub as a centre," he added. | "Quite a lot of onlookers around, there are lot of shocked people here. Police are using the pub as a centre," he added. |
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to what is believed to be a mid-air collision. | A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to what is believed to be a mid-air collision. |
A South Wales Police spokesman said: "We received reports shortly before 11am today that two light aircraft had landed in the vicinity near Kenfig nature reserve, Porthcawl. | A South Wales Police spokesman said: "We received reports shortly before 11am today that two light aircraft had landed in the vicinity near Kenfig nature reserve, Porthcawl. |
"Officers are attending at the scene. Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has taken place. No further information is available at this stage. | "Officers are attending at the scene. Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has taken place. No further information is available at this stage. |
"There was a collision involving two light aircraft, an aircraft collision investigation is underway. | "There was a collision involving two light aircraft, an aircraft collision investigation is underway. |
"There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet." | "There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet." |
Officers are working at contact the next of kin of those who died in the crash. | |
A casualty bureau number has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned relatives may be involved, the number is 0800 096 1011. | |
BBC Wales Today's Nicola Smith reports from the air crash scene | |
A full investigation in conjunction with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is ongoing. | |
The spokesman added that the aircraft have landed in a sand dunes area, and not in any populated areas. | |
Bridgend Superintendent Tim Jones said: "A full investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident. | |
"Both aircrafts have landed in different areas of the sand dunes near to Kenfig Hill Nature Reserve, Porthcawl. | |
"We cannot at this stage confirm further details of the aircraft involved or details of any the aircrafts' occupants. | |
"A cordon has been established and officers are at the scene." | |
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their duties. | |
"The possibility exists that debris may be strewn across a wide area and we would appeal to members of the public to leave it in place and contact us so we may arrange recovery and examination," he said. | |
There are two crash sites a few hundred yards apart on the road from Porthcawl to Mawdlam. | There are two crash sites a few hundred yards apart on the road from Porthcawl to Mawdlam. |
Emergency services at the scene of the crash | |
Leigh Griffiths, 36, a carpenter from Kenfig Hill was working in a house next to the Prince of Wales Pub when he heard a "big wallop" and ran out the back. | Leigh Griffiths, 36, a carpenter from Kenfig Hill was working in a house next to the Prince of Wales Pub when he heard a "big wallop" and ran out the back. |
"There was a section of wing had hit the garage, so we ran out. What we found was another piece of debris. | "There was a section of wing had hit the garage, so we ran out. What we found was another piece of debris. |
"We saw the smoke coming from the dunes." | "We saw the smoke coming from the dunes." |
He and a friend ran over, where other people had already reached the scene. | He and a friend ran over, where other people had already reached the scene. |
'Scrambled' | 'Scrambled' |
He said they found a body. | He said they found a body. |
"Somebody said there was a second plane and we had seen the debris so we ran, hoping we could do something," he said. | "Somebody said there was a second plane and we had seen the debris so we ran, hoping we could do something," he said. |
He said there was another body there. | He said there was another body there. |
They were later told the dead people had been accompanied by others, he said. | They were later told the dead people had been accompanied by others, he said. |
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "At this stage, we cannot confirm the type of aircraft involved or where they may have come from. | A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "At this stage, we cannot confirm the type of aircraft involved or where they may have come from. |
"Two rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with the South Wales Police air support unit. | "Two rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with the South Wales Police air support unit. |
"The two rescue helicopters are a Sea King from RAF Chivenor in Devon and the Coastguard helicopter from Portland. Civilian police, fire and ambulance services are also in attendance." | "The two rescue helicopters are a Sea King from RAF Chivenor in Devon and the Coastguard helicopter from Portland. Civilian police, fire and ambulance services are also in attendance." |
Porthcawl and Port Talbot coastguard teams and the Central Beacons mountain rescue team have also been called to help. | Porthcawl and Port Talbot coastguard teams and the Central Beacons mountain rescue team have also been called to help. |